Acupuncture Diagnosis in Equine Stifle Disease

The stifle is a large and complex joint in quadrupeds, including horses, making the diagnosis of stifle diseases a challenge for the clinician. The detection of “stifle syndrome” during acupuncture examination of the equine stifle may be useful for diagnosis of stifle diseases in horses. The aim of the present study was to describe stifle syndrome diagnosis in horses. From 2001 through 2012, 810 athletic horses involved in different disciplines were examined using the technique of acupuncture diagnosis. Stifle syndrome was suspected when the following points were reactive: the sacral point suggestive of stifle disease located at the sacral origin of the biceps femoris muscle, bladder (BL)-20, BL-21, and stomach (ST)-30, together with the three local points in the muscle groove of the posterolateral aspect of the thigh. The diagnostic protocol included radiography and/or ultrasonography in certain cases. The horses were evaluated because of reduced athletic performance, routine or prepurchase examination, hind limb lameness, refusal to jump, inappetence, upward fixation of the patella, thoracolumbar spine or sacroiliac pain, suspensory lesion, and front hoof problems, and 86 (9.4%) were diagnosed with stifle syndrome. The sacral acupuncture point suggestive of stifle syndrome correlated with BL-21, local stifle points, gall bladder (GB)-27, spleen-13, BL-23, BL-52, BL-26, and/or GB-25, ST-30, BL-54 (P < .0001), and BL-20 (P = .003). Twenty-two (25.6%) of the 86 horses with stifle syndrome underwent ultrasonography and/or radiography, and lesions were detected in 21. In conclusion, acupuncture for diagnosis of stifle disease may be considered a diagnostic method to be included in routine clinical examination of horses, and its reproducibility shall be investigated in further studies.     

针刺法防治玉环柚采前裂果的效应研究

对用针刺法防治玉环柚采前裂果的效应进行了研究，结果针刺损伤对减少玉环柚采前裂果效果明显，处理时期以果实膨大期为宜，冰冻切片观察，针刺后，果顶端白皮层增厚，刺痕细胞木质化程度显著增加，木质素沉积，周边细胞组织致密，机械强度相应增强。     

鸡躯体和内脏初级传入纤维在脊髓和延髓的共同投射

采用ＣＢ—ＨＲＰ跨神经节追踪技术，我们发现鸡躯体和内脏的初级传入投射在脊髓质的一些板层和延髓的一些核团内有重叠区。１腓肠肌外头与卵巢的初级传入在Ｔ６～Ｌ３及Ｓ３～Ｓ５脊髓节段的Ｉ、Ⅴ层有明显的投射重叠区；与睾丸的初级传入在Ｔ６～Ｌ２及Ｓ３～Ｓ５髓节的Ｉ、Ⅴ层有明显的投射重叠；与泄殖腔的初级传入在Ｔ７～Ｌ２及Ｓ３～Ｓ５髓节的Ｉ、Ⅴ层亦有明显的重叠投射。２跗部皮肤与泄殖腔的在Ｌ２及Ｓ３髓节的Ｉ、Ⅳ层，与卵巢的在Ｌ２～Ｌ３髓节的Ｉ、Ⅳ层，与睾丸的在Ｌ３及Ｓ３髓节的Ｉ、Ⅳ层均有轻度的投射重叠区。３挠神经与腺胃及胸腺的在延髓的楔束外核和弧束核的内侧亚核有重叠投射区，４挠神经与卵巢、睾丸的在孤束核的内侧亚核有重叠；推测鸡的躯体和内脏的初级传入在这些区域可能有汇聚。     

Electroencephalographic evaluation of gold wire implants inserted in acupuncture points in dogs with epileptic seizures

The purpose of this study was to evaluate both, clinically and with electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, the effect of gold wire implants in acupuncture points in dogs with uncontrolled idiopathic epileptic seizures. Fifteen dogs with such diagnosis were enrolled in the study. A first EEG recording was performed in all dogs under anaesthesia with xylazine (1 mg/kg) and propofol (6 mg/kg) before the treatment protocol, and a second EEG was performed 15 weeks later. Relative frequency power, intrahemispheric coherence available through EEG, number of seizures and seizure severity were compared before and after treatment using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. There were no significant statistical differences before and after treatment in relative power or in intrahemispheric coherence in the EEG recording. However, there was a significant mean difference in seizure frequency and seizure severity between control and treatment periods. After treatment, nine of the 15 dogs (60%) had at least a 50% reduction in seizures frequency during the 15 weeks established as follow-up of this treatment.     

Acupuncture Needle Stimulation on Some Physiological Parameters After Road Transport and Physical Exercise in Horse

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acupuncture (AG) treatment on some hematochemical parameters in five Thoroughbred horses after road transport and exercise. Horses competed in two official races. For each race, animals were transported from their stables to the racetrack. Horses transported and competed in the first race represent the control group. Two weeks later, the same horses competed in the second race. Before road transport, they were treated with AG. From animals, blood samples were collected at rest (T_PRE), after unloaded (T_POST), 30 minutes after unloaded (T_POST30), at rest in the transit stall (R_PRE), at the end of the race (R_POST), and 30 minutes after the race (R_POST30). The effect of transport, exercise, and AG was evaluated on blood lactate, glucose, red blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF) values. A significant effect of transport (P < .05) and exercise (P < .01) was found on all studied parameters in both groups. A significant effect of AG on lactate, glucose, and EOF values was found in transported (P < .001) and exercised horses (P < .05). The results found in this study showed that transport and exercise are potential stressors for the athlete horse that may affect its welfare and physical performance. The data suggest that AG stimulation promoted the increase of blood glucose values and the reduction of lactate and EOF levels suggesting its role in the improvement of the physiological adaptation to stressful stimuli and of physical performance of Thoroughbred horses.     

Effect of acupuncture on CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T-cells in rats of embryo implantation failure

AIM：To observe the effect of acupuncture on CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3(forkhead box P3)+ regulatory T-cells(Treg cells) in rats with embryo implantation failure. METHODS：One hundred and forty-four pregnant rats were randomly divided into control group(N), mifepristone treatment group(M), mifepristone+acupuncture treatment group(A) and mifepristone+progestin treatment group(W). The rats in groups M, A and W were treated with mifepristone-sesame oil solution on day 1, while the rats in group N were injected with the same amount of sesame oil. The Housanli(ST36) and Sanyinjiao(SP6) points were selected for acupuncture. From day 1 to the time of death, the rats in group A were fasten up and then the acupuncture was performed. Accordingly, the rats in group N and group M were only fixed, and the rats in group W were given progestin. Implanted embryos in each group were counted. The proportions of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells in peripheral blood and CD4+ Foxp3+ Treg cells in the endometrium were detected by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein levels of Foxp3 were determined by real-time PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS：Compared with group N, the number of implanted embryos, the percentages of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells in peripheral blood and CD4+ Foxp3+ Treg cells in the endometrium, and the expression of Foxp3 protein and mRNA in the endometrium were significantly decreased in group M(P<005). Compared with group M, the above indexes in group A and group W were significantly increased. CONCLUSION: The effect of acupuncture in rats with embryo implantation failure may be closely correlated with the modulation of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells.     

中国兽医针灸术在国外的传播

中国兽医针灸历史悠久。从公元482年至507年间流传到日本、朝鲜等国,1582年起传入欧洲。近年来,许多国家的兽医工作者对针灸术越来越感兴趣,作了大量研究工作,研究报告自1973年起逐年增多。美国1974年成立国际兽医针灸学会,以鼓励和促进兽医针灸理论、技术与应用的科研活动。有些国家也成立了本国的兽医针灸学会。还出版了兽医针灸书刊。目前,最重要的任务是实现兽医针灸穴位命名国际标准化,而这一任务的实现,无疑是需要中国兽医针灸学者的努力。     

电针对山羊皮层诱发电位和骨髓表面诱发电位的影响

本文报道了15头山羊电刺激胫神经引起的大脑皮层诱发电位(CEP)和脊髓表面诱发电位(SSP)被电针抑制的情况。其结果是:CEP和SSP被电针抑制的程度不同,当CEP被完全抑制时,SSP(负电位)仅受到轻度抑制。提示电针对伤害性刺激传入冲动引起的诱发电位的抑制作用,在大脑皮层比在脊髓强。至于其中痛成分的抑制情况如何有待进一步探讨。